Rafael Nadal takes the court on Thursday for his second match this week in Shanghai. Standing in Nadal’s way of the quarterfinals is Carlos Berlocq. Hasan Murad previews the action.
Rafael Nadal will be up against the 30-year old Carlos Berlocq for the third time in his career on Thursday night at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Both previous meetings took place this year on the clay courts of Sao Paulo and Barcelona. Even though this upcoming encounter will be played on a hard court, the scenario for Nadal is far more auspicious in comparison to their first meeting in Sao Paulo, where he was struggling for confidence and Berlocq even got himself in a winning position in the second set before Nadal’s dogged perseverance earned him a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.
The Spaniard was brimming with confidence in his emphatic 6-3, 6-2 dismissal of an erratic Alexandr Dolgopolov in the Beijing second round to improve to 27-1 on hard courts this year. The biggest positive from the victory was undoubtedly his improved serving. He landed 83 percent of first serves in, recorded nine aces, and did not face a single break point–a massive improvement from last week in Beijing, where the world No. 1 had his serve broken in every match he played.
Berlocq has already scored two upset wins this week. He showed great resilience in overcoming Dmitry Tursunov 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and went on an even higher note Wednesday with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over big-serving American John Isner. Berlocq plays his best tennis on clay, but a great start to the week has improved his record for the year to a respectable 28-23. However, the Argentine should not expect any further favors in Shanghai as his next opponent is virtually unbeatable nowadays.
Berlocq will likely try to break down Nadal’s backhand, but the favorite should have plenty of rhythm in this match.
Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 6 games or fewer
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On Friday, Rafa will play again (!) not before 08:00 PM (Shanghai time).
Not surprised @augusta08, it’s the pick of the bunch as I said……
they aren’t going to make him have a quick turnaround. once you get a late match at a tournament where there are no days off in between matches, you are kind of stuck.
same as what happened this summer in Cincinnati. Nadal night match every time.
@vamosrafa – check email
There is something positive about Rafa here, something which was lacking in Beijing.
Maybe he is not worrying about his knee.
Anyway, a Rafa-Nole final seems inevitable.
I will now cheer for Monfils. Allez Monfils!!!!!
Monfils, you beat Fed, now the responsibility of beating Nole is yours so our Rafa could become the year end no. 1 at Shanghai!!
Of course not only does Nole have to lose in the Quarters, Rafa has to win the tournament. But I don’t see anybody stopping Rafa. Vamos Rafa!
don’t Rafans wan’t another shot at Djokovic?
or do they just want No. 1 wrapped up as quickly as possible?
For this Rafan, first prize is getting the YE#1 wrapped up then Rafa can play with “colm” and look forward to the next goal, WTF. Rafa will have plenty of shots at Djoker, it’s not like he is still under his spell, Rafa still has the upper hand until proven otherwise…….
For me, Novak can beat Rafa again if they meet in the final, I don’t mind. The important thing is he will be in another final, and getting closer to wrapping up the top ranking.
Have to agree with RITB. Another final appearance for Rafa means getting even closer to the YE No 1 spot. If this includes another Novak win, so be it. Nole certainly won’t take residence in Rafa’s head again. There willl be fresh cards on the table in 2014 anyway.
Rafael Nadal vs Berlocq ( 6-1, 7-6 ) Highlights Shanghai 2013 (in Russian):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ztrv_Iuh51I
Thx augusta08 for the highlights, that was quick off the mark.
Sweating buckets with that high humidity.
I like the way Rafa’s playing.
It’s impossible to keep up the same level of agression for long with that humidity.
Full match:
Rafael Nadal Vs Berlocq ATP Shanghai Masters Open 2013 3R (in English)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mgVCWiqrHA
good stuff, thanks
Rafa is playing better than he did in Beijing so I don’t mind if he meets Nole in the final. The sooner he beats Nole again, the better, so I do mind 2 losses to Nole in a row.
Don’t get me wrong, I would love it if Rafa won Shanghai, sweeter if he beats Novak in the process. A win over Novak would be important in so far as it chips away at Novak’s confidence with the AO coming up, a huge bonus. I am looking at short term gains for now and I just want Rafa to compartmentalise his goals and tick them off one by one. It also helps that, for Rafa, clinching YE#1 is not dependent on him beating Novak.
Rafa up against the Swiss No. 1 in the Race to London in the QFs!!!
chr18 would have to change his name to chr0 in honor of the new top swiss player of the year!!!
#VamosRafa
#0-10
Oh don’t worry about chr-whocares, somewhere in Kentucky, he has already rationalised Fed’s loss: Fed does not bother himself with small tournaments, Masters included; he is saving himself for Slams. Funny thing is, his other hero, Djoker, is bemoaning his lack-luster showing at Masters events this year.
Nadal-Berlocq recap by @vamosrafa – https://tenngrand.com/2013/10/10/nadal-holds-off-berlocq-into-shanghai-quarterfinals/
Djoker-Monf and Delpo-Nico previews – https://tenngrand.com/2013/10/10/shanghai-qf-previews-and-picks-djokovic-vs-monfils-del-potro-vs-almagro/
Congrats Rick…u got the nationality of Fed’s conqueror spot on….;)
#ToldYouSo
#CongratsToMe
#GoatCanGloat
I was watching the Fed/Monfils match last night and fell asleep. So I started watching the replay on the tennis channel. Fed just won the second set tb, but I came on here and saw that Monfils ended up winning.
I was a bit surprised to see that Rafa had to win a second set tb again Berlocq. Will have to see the replay later.
atul,
Welcome! Glad to see you here!